According to the agreement, all parties will drop the case, though the offer is yet to be approved by Sterling Palm Beach, which holds a long-term lease on the Royal Poinciana Plaza.

“I hope this shows good intentions on the part of the Town Council,” Councilman Richard Kleid said. “I hope Patrick Flynn [PPB CEO] and the Preserve Palm Beach group would not bring any other actions along these lines because it’s costly and time-consuming.”

The settlement offer resulted from a recently passed state law forbidding referendums on development orders or local comprehensive plan or map amendments, regardless of the size of the property.

The new law is bad for residents, Flynn said. “It’s a terrible diminution of our rights,” he said. “It’s giving up a right in the constitution — the right to petition our government.” [PBDN]